I Have the Right to Be a Child

With a very simple text accompanied by rich, vibrant illustrations a young narrator describes what it means to be a child with rights ? from the right to food, water and shelter, to the right to go to school, to the right to be free from violence, to the right to breathe clean air, and much more. The book emphasizes that these rights belong to every child on the planet, whether they are ?black or white, small or big, rich or poor, born here or somewhere else." It also makes evident that knowing and talking about these rights are the first steps toward making sure that they are respected.

A brief afterword explains that the rights outlined in the book come from the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1989. The treaty sets out the basic human rights that belong to children all over the world, recognizing that children need special protection since they are more vulnerable than adults. It has been ratified by 193 countries, with the exception of Somalia and the United States. Once a country has ratified the document, they are legally bound to comply with it and to report on their efforts to do so. As a result, some progress has been made, not only in awareness of children's rights, but also in their implementation. But there are still many countries, wealthy and poor, where children's basic needs are not being met.

About the Author

Alain Serres was born in 1956 in Biarritz, France. He was a school teacher for thirteen years before turning his hand to publishing. In 1996 he founded the independent French publisher, Rue du Monde, of which he is still the Director. Alain has written more than eighty titles for children.

About the Illustrator

Aurélia Fronty was born in born in France in 1973. After graduating from the art school of Duperré in Paris, she went on to work in fashion before turning her hand to children’s illustration. She has illustrated over forty children’s titles.